Close X
Thursday, September 19, 2024
ADVT 
International

Norway, Philippines Envoys Among Seven Dead In Pakistan Chopper Crash

Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 May, 2015 01:28 PM
  • Norway, Philippines Envoys Among Seven Dead In Pakistan Chopper Crash
The ambassadors of the Philippines and Norway were among seven people killed on Friday in a chopper crash in Pakistan's Naltar valley near Gilgit.
 
Even as the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the crash was caused by an attack it carried out, the army said the chopper "developed technical fault" while landing, media reports said. 
 
In an update on Twitter, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa said the dead included four foreigners -- Ambassadors Domingo D. Lucinerio Jr. of the Philippines and Leif Larsen of Norway and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors -- and three Pakistanis -- two pilots and one crew member.
 
He said that according to initial information, two helicopters belonging to the Pakistan Army landed safely "while the third developed technical fault while landing", which caused the accident.
 
He ruled out the possibility of any terrorist or subversive activity, according to Dawn online.
 
The Pakistan Army helicopter crash-landed on a school, the report said, adding that Dutch Ambassador Marcel de Vink and Polish Ambassador Andrzej Ananicz were injured in the incident.
 
Earlier, in a series of tweets, Bajwa said that six Pakistanis and 11 foreigners were on board the MI-17 helicopter.
 
Three helicopters were carrying a delegation of foreign diplomats and their wives and aides to Gilgit-Baltistan, where they were scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. 
 
"It was a diplomatic trip with members of 37 countries in total," said a passenger in one of the helicopters, who requested anonymity, adding that the school caught fire after the chopper crashed on it.
 
Expressing grief over the death of the envoys, Sharif has announced a one-day mourning, Associated Press of Pakistan reported. He was scheduled to visit Gilgit on Friday for the inauguration of two projects.
 
Shortly after the incident, the injured were taken to a military hospital in Gilgit, officials said.
 
A board of inquiry has been constituted to investigate the cause of the crash.

MORE International ARTICLES

Five Beheaded In Saudi Arabia For Indian's Murder

Five Beheaded In Saudi Arabia For Indian's Murder
Five people were beheaded in Saudi Arabia for killing an Indian during an armed robbery, the interior ministry announced on Monday.

Five Beheaded In Saudi Arabia For Indian's Murder

Indian Jailed For Killing Co-worker In Dubai

Indian Jailed For Killing Co-worker In Dubai
An Indian man, who kicked his co-worker on his head resulting in immediate death during a druken brawl, has been jailed for five years in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Indian Jailed For Killing Co-worker In Dubai

New British royal baby named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

New British royal baby named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
The name of Britain's Princess of Cambridge, who was born on Saturday, is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace announced on Monday.

New British royal baby named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

Modi Joins Chinese Social Media Site Weibo

Modi Joins Chinese Social Media Site Weibo
Ahead of his visit to China later this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tweeted that he has joined Chinese microblogging website Weibo.

Modi Joins Chinese Social Media Site Weibo

Two Shot Dead After They Open Fire At Mohammed Cartoon Event In Texas

Two Shot Dead After They Open Fire At Mohammed Cartoon Event In Texas
In what was probably the first such attack on American soil, two gunmen opened fire outside the venue of a controversial cartoon contest on Prophet Mohammed in Texas on Sunday, only to be killed themselves as police returned fire.

Two Shot Dead After They Open Fire At Mohammed Cartoon Event In Texas

Nepal Asks Foreign Rescuers To Go, India Lists Assistance

Nepal Asks Foreign Rescuers To Go, India Lists Assistance
As the death toll from the April 25 disaster surged to 7,365 with more than 14,000 people injured, Nepal prepared to send home all foreign rescue and search teams.

Nepal Asks Foreign Rescuers To Go, India Lists Assistance